Method and apparatus of filling and sealing cups

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus are disclosed wherein a plurality of vertical, supported, nested, rimmed containers are denested individually and sequentially placed on a conveyor means wherein they are reciprocally advanced to a filling station where the container is filled. The containers are subsequently advanced to a cover applying station wherein a cover is heat sealed to the container after being removed from a source and trimmed to the approximate size of the container. Subsequently, the covered container is advanced to a cutting and crimping station wherein the remaining covering is cut off and the covering mechanically crimped around the container.

United States Patent John SIFlavelle [72] Inventor Peterborough,Ontario. Canada [21] Appl. No. 844,482 [22] Filed July 24,1969 [45]Patented June 15, 1971 [73] Assignee Phillips Petroleum Company [54]METHOD AND APPARATUS 0F FILLING AND SEALING CUPS 5 Claims, 5 DrawingFigs.

[52] US. Cl 53/37, 53/41, 53/281, 53/296 [51] Int. Cl B65b 3/04 [50]Field of Search 53/37. 39, 41,42, 267, 281, 282, 296, 329, 366; 156/69[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,474,595 10/1969 Moroney eta1 53/282X 34 Tl LJ l osnssrmc FIRL ING FlLLlNG l l TRlMMlNG COVERAPPLYING 3,509,683 5/1970 Sternav ABSTRACT: Method and apparatus aredisclosed wherein a plurality of vertical, supported, nested, rimmedcontainers are dencsted individually and sequentially placed on aconveyor means wherein they are reciprocally advanced to a fillingstation where the container is filled. The containers are subsequentlyadvanced to a cover applying station wherein a cover is heat sealed tothe container after being removed from a source and trimmed to theapproximate size of the container. Subsequently, the covered containeris advanced to a cutting and crimping station wherein the remainingcovering is cut off and the covering mechanically crimped around thecontainer.

I CUTTlNG CRIMPING PATENTED JUN] 5197! SHEET 1 [IF 4 INVENTOR. J. sfFLAVELLE A 7 TORNEVS OZEEEU OZEImmZmQ PATENTEUJUHISIEJTI 3584.431

SHEET 3 UF 4 INVENTOR. J. S F LAVE LLE FIG. 4 BY 4 3,

A T TORNF VS PMENTED JUN] 515m 3584,4131 SHEEI u 1F 4 96 tn P I MUN A TTORNEVS METHOD AND APPARATUS F FILLING AND SEALING CUPS This inventionrelates to a method and apparatus for automatically filling and sealingcontainers.

In the past, containers, particularly cups, containing individualservings of jellies, jams, condiments, mayonnaise, syrup, and cream, andother types of pourable materials, have been extensively used.conventionally, the containers are denested, filled, and covered by aseries of different operations which are not interrelated to oneanother. The result is that the lack of interrelation between thevarious functions of producing the finished product greatly increasesthe cost of packaging.

In one embodiment, this invention broadly comprises denesting,peripherally externally rimmed containers from a vertical supportedstack and allowing the denested containers to fall onto a reciprocatingconveying mechanism. After falling onto the reciprocating conveyingmechanism, the reciprocating action sequences the cups through a fillingoperation, wherein they are filled, through a cover applying operationwherein a cover is heat sealed onto the container, and subsequentlythrough a cutting and crimping operation wherein the covering materialis finally cut so as to conform to the size of the container and acrimping head crimps the covering material over the container. Thecovering material is positioned to be heat sealed to the container as aresult of the reciprocatory advancement of the containers pullingcovering from a source and through a trimming station, wherein it istrimmed so as to conform to the approximate size of the container to becovered but the cover portion is not separated from the web.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatusand method for filling and sealing cups which is quick and efficient inoperation and requires little attention.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and methodfor automatically filling cups with a liquid and thereafter both heatsealing and mechanically crimping the cover about the cups.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus forautomatically sealing and filling cups, the apparatus being inexpensiveto manufacture and durable in structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a single apparatuswherein the cups are denested, filled, and covered by a single piece ofequipment operating in a reciprocal manner.

Another object of this invention is to reduce the initial cost thatwould be associated with individual pieces of equipment to perform thevarious denesting, filling, and covering functions.

Another object of this invention is to reduce labor and utilities costthrough the operation of the simplified apparatus of this invention.

Other objects, advantages and features of this invention will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art from the follow-- ing description,the drawings and appended claims.

In FIG. 1, there is indicated a plan view of the apparatus of oneembodiment of this invention indicating the various stations togetherwith the reciprocatory action of the apparatus. In FIG. 2, there isindicated an elevation view corresponding with FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, thereis indicated the conveying apparatus in plan view. In FIG. 4, there isindicated the trimming station as noted in FIG. I. In FIG. 5, there isindicated the cutting and crimping station.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, in operation motor-driven cam 2reciprocates a member generally designated as 4 relative to a stationarymember generally designated as 3. Member 4 which carries rails 6 and 8and pedestal I0 is biased so that follower remains in contact with cam 2by springs 7 and 9 attached at one end to reciprocating member 4 and atthe other end to securing projections extending from member 3. Member 3is stationarily supported by pedestals 21A and 21B and 23A and 23B fixedto base I which also supports plates 25 and 27 which in turn rotatablysupport cam 2 on driven shaft 22.

At the denesting station when the outermost throw of cam 2 occurs thestack of cups 12 in magazine 200 is supported on plate 14 attached topusher shoe 34 extending from pedestal 10. As member 4 moves toward itsinnermost throw, wedges l6 and 18 move between the flange of thelowermost cup 20 and that next above it in stack 12 and lifts the stackslightly as plate 14 now supporting only the lowermost cup 12 moves frombeneath the cups.

When plate 14 has moved from beneath cup 20, an air bellows (not shown)is actuated by the movement of member 4, and is compressed upon furtherrearward movement of member 4 thus blowing air through tubes 28 andopenings 30 which blows cup 20 down into position in conveyor mechanismgenerally designated as 32 in FIG. 3 to be picked up by pusher shoe 34during the next forward motion of member 4. Although gravity alonecauses the cup to drop into place before shoe 34, it has been found thatthe air aids in more reliably positioning the cup before shoe 34. Duringthe next forward movement of member 4, plate 14 is inserted intoposition below cup stack I2 and the cups are lowered into contact withplate 14 as wedges l6 and 18 move from beneath the flange of the newlowermost container 36 in stack 12. Cup 20 is pushed forward one stationby shoe 34. During the next reciprocating cycle cup 36 is denested andplaced in position in the conveyor mechanism 32 on the backstroke andcup 20 is engaged by spring biased pusher arms 38 which are pivotallyattached to reciprocating member 4 and pivot outward on the backstrokeof member 4, then close inwardly behind the cups so that on the forwardstroke of member 4 the cups 20 and 36 are pushed ahead one station whilerods 40 and 42 which are fixed to stationary member 3 frictionallyengage the cups. This denesting and conveying sequence continues foreach reciprocating cycle of member 4.

During the backstroke of member 4 the cups beneath the first and secondfilling stations receive a shot of cream from a pump 55 through tube 51having a backfiow check valve 66 attached to stationary member 3. Thecharge of cream is sucked from a container of cream (not shown) throughtube 50 during the just previous forward stroke of member 4. The suctionand discharge pressures are created by a piston moving within pumpcylinder 54 under the action of piston rod 56 attached to reciprocatingmember 4. Each cup receives approximately half of its charge at onefilling station and the remainder at the other filling station.

After the cups are filled they move to the cover applying station wherean aluminum foil cover 70 having a hot melt adhesive coating on side 68and a paper backing on the other side is heat sealed over the cup. Thecover material is in strip form so the motion of the conveyor moving thecups with the lids sealed in place pulls cover material from a supplyroll 72 through the trimming station past the cover applying station tothe sealing station. According to this invention, the covering is firstheat sealed and then mechanically sealed or crimped. The covering isheat sealed to the container by the action of heater element 68 which issuitably powered and controlled by a means to adjust the temperature ofelement 68 to heat sealing temperature.

Now referring to FIG. 4, where the trimming station is indicated asshown in FIG. 1, to FIG. 1 itself and also to FIG. 2, the coveringmaterial is trimmed at the trimming station to the approximate shape ofthe container opening by trim plates 76 and 78 and trim die plate 80.Trim plates 76 and 78 are fixed to rods 82 and 84 which are slidablysupported by members 86 fixed to trim die plate through frame 62. Trimplates 76 and 78 are biased away from trim die plate 80 by spring 88.Trim plates 76 and 78 are moved toward trim die plate 80 by rods 82 and84 striking members 90 and 92 attached to reciprocating member 4 duringthe backstroke of member 4. The trimmed scrap from the trimmingoperation falls down chutes 94 and is discarded. A narrow web section 96ofcover material is left connecting successive covers so the cupadvancement action will pull covering material from source 72. Thisnarrow section is severed at the cutting station by blade 100 at thesame time as the crimping station crimping head 102 forces the portionof the lid extending beyond the rim of the cups downwardly around therim portion of the cup.

Now referring to FIG. 5 and also to FIGS. 1 and 2, blade 100 andcrimping head 102 depend from cam bars 104 which are pivoted at 106 toblock 108 which is attached to the stationary member generallydesignated as 3. Cam bars 104 are depressed by roller 112, which isrotatably supported by shaft 114, which is fixed to reciprocating member4.

The filled, covered containers issue from the machine and slide downchute 116 to a collection system where they are boxed for shipment.

Thus, this invention is broadly applicable to filling and coveringcontainers.

As noted, the drawing is diagrammatic and is not intended to fully showall component parts of the apparatus which one skilled in the art wouldroutinely design for the operation thereof. Indeed, the showing of anelement or piece of equipment does not mean that all such or similarpieces of equipment which may or can be designed by one skilled in theart in possession of this disclosure cannot be utilized as substitutiontherefor. Likewise, the omission of an element which one skilled in theart may include in the actual unit does not mean such a piece ofequipment is intended to be omitted simply because it does not appear inthe drawing.

I claim:

l. Reciprocating apparatus for denesting, filling, and coveringcontainers comprising in combination:

a. a framework;

b. a means for producing reciprocating motion;

0. conveyor means actuated by said reciprocating motion means to conveyalong a predetermined path a row of containers spaced apart from oneanother, so as to sequentially position, for a predetermined period oftime during said reciprocating cycle, said containers at a fillingstation, a cover applying station, and a crimping and cutting stationalong said conveyor means;

d. means located at a denesting station for denesting and positioningcontainers on said conveyor means;

e. means to fill said containers located at said filling station andactuated by said reciprocating motion means;

f. a source of a continuous web of heat sealable covering material;

g. means located at said cover applying station to cover said containersby heat sealing a portion of said continuous web over said container soas to form a cover;

h. means to crimp said cover around said container periphery located atsaid crimping and cutting station and actuated by said reciprocatingmotion means, said conveyor means advancing said covered container fromthe cover applying station to the crimping and cutting station and thuswithdrawing said covering material from its source and positioning thecovering material over the next container to be covered; and

. means located at said crimping and cutting station and actuated bysaid reciprocating motion to cut the cover of the crimped container freefrom said continuous web of covering material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

a. said denesting and positioning means fiirther comprises:

1. magazine means for receiving and positioning a stack of nested,peripherally external rimmed containers in a substantially verticalposition above said conveyor means,

2. means actuated by said reciprocal motion means to support, during afirst portion of said reciprocating cycle, said stack of nestedcontainers by supporting the lower region of said lowermost container,said means withdrawing support of said stack during a second portion ofsaid reciprocating cycle, and

3. means actuated by said reciprocal motion means to support said stackof nested containers by engaging the rim of the next to lowermostcontainer during said second portion of the reciprocating cycle anddischarge onto said conveyor means during said second portion of thereciprocating cycle the lowermost container from the nested stack;

b. said filling means further comprises:

1. a source otfluid for filling said containers, and

2. a pumping cylinder means actuated by said reciprocal motion means anda check valve, said pumping cylinder, and check valve being connectedwith suitabie conduits and adapted to conduct said fluid from saidsource, through said pumping cylinder and check valve, and dischargesaid filling material into said container;

c. said crimping means further comprises a crimping head pivotallymounted on cam bars attached to said frame so that during reciprocatingmotion said cam bars strike a cam follower attached to said conveyormeans and cause said crimping head to crimp; and

d. said cutting means comprises a cutting blade depending from said cambars which mount said crimping head, said cutting blade thus cutting thecrimped container cover free from said continuous web when said cam barsstrike said cam follower.

3. The apparatus of claim 2:

a. wherein said lowermost container from said nested stack is dischargedonto said conveyor means by injecting compressed air between saidlowermost container and said next to lowermost supported container; and

b. further comprising a means actuated by said reciprocating motionmeans to cut the edges of said continuous web of covering material so asto form a series of connected covers of substantially the same shape assaid rimmed periphery of the container.

4. A method of reciprocally denesting, filling, and covering containerscomprising:

a. initiating reciprocal motion;

b. denesting, in a denesting zone, the lowermost container from asubstantially vertical stack of nested, externally peripherally rimmedcontainers during a first portion of a first reciprocating cycle;

c. conveying said denested container to a filling zone during a secondportion of said first reciprocating cycle;

d. filling said container with a fluid in said filling zone during asubsequent cycle;

e. conveying said filled containers to a cover applying zone during asubsequent cycle;

f. heat sealing in said cover applying zone a first portion ofacontinuous web of covering material over said container, so as to form acover therein;

g. conveying during a subsequent cycle said covered container to acutting and crimping zone, a second portion of said continuous web ofcovering material being positioned over a subsequent containerreciprocally advanced to said cover applying zone by the action ofconveying to said cutting and crimping zone the container sealed to saidcontinuous web by the covering operation;

h. crimping said cover over said external peripheral rim in said cuttingand crimping zone during said cycle wherein the covered containers areconveyed to said cutting and crimping zone; and

i. cutting said cover free from said continuous web in said cutting andcrimping zone during said cycle.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising, prior to heat sealing thecover to said container in said cover applying zone, cutting thecontinuous web of covering material to form connected portions ofcovering material substantially the same size as the external peripheralrim of said container.

1. A SOURCE OF FLUID FOR FILLING SAID CONTAINERS, AND
 1. MAGAZINE MEANSFOR RECEIVING AND POSITIONING A STACK OF NESTED, PERIPHERALLY EXTERNALRIMMED CONTAINERS IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION ABOVE SAIDCONVEYOR MEANS,
 2. MEANS ACTUATED BY SAID RECIPROCAL MOTION MEANS TOSUPPORT, DURING A FIRST PORTION OF SAID RECIPROCATING CYCLE, SAID STACKOF NESTED CONTAINERS BY SUPPORTING THE LOWER REGION OF SAID LOWERMOSTCONTAINER, SAID MEANS WITHDRAWING SUPPORT OF SAID STACK DURING A SECONDPORTION OF SAID RECIPROCATING CYCLE, AND
 2. A PUMPING CYLINDER MEANSACTUATED BY SAID RECIPROCAL MOTION MEANS AND A CHECK VALVE, SAID PUMPINGCYLINDER, AND CHECK VALVE BEING CONNECTED WITH SUITABLE CONDUITS ANDADAPTED TO CONDUCT SAID FLUID FROM SAID SOURCE, THROUGH SAID PUMPINGCYLINDER AND CHECK VALVE, AND DISCHARGE SAID FILLING MATERIAL INTO SAIDCONTAINER; C. SAID CRIMPING MEANS FURTHER COMPRISES A CRIMPING HEADPIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON CAM BARS ATTACHED TO SAID FRAME SO THAT DURINGRECIPROCATING MOTION SAID CAM BARS STRIKE A CAM FOLLOWER ATTACHED TOSAID CONVEYOR MEANS AND CAUSE SAID CRIMPING HEAD TO CRIMP; AND D. SAIDCUTTING MEANS COMPRISES A CUTTING BLADE DEPENDING FROM SAID CAM BARSWHICH MOUNT SAID CRIMPING HEAD, SAID CUTTING BLADE THUS CUTTING THECRIMPED CONTAINER COVER FREE FROM SAID CONTINUOUS WEB WHEN SAID CAM BARSSTRIKE SAID CAM FOLLOWER.
 3. MEANS ACTUATED BY SAID RECIPROCAL MOTIONMEANS TO SUPPORT SAID STACK OF NESTED CONTAINERS BY ENGAGING THE RIM OFTHE NEXT TO LOWERMOST CONTAINER DURING SAID SECOND PORTION OF THERECIPROCATING CYCLE AND DISCHARGE ONTO SAID CONVEYOR MEANS DURING SAIDSECOND PORTION OF THE RECIPROCATING CYCLE THE LOWERMOST CONTAINER FROMTHE NESTED STACK; B. SAID FILLING MEANS FURTHER COMPRISES:
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein: a. said denesting and positioning meansfurther comprises:
 2. means actuated by said reciprocal motion means tosupport, during a first portion of said reciprocating cycle, said stackof nested containers by supporting the lower region of said lowermostcontainer, said means withdrawing support of said stack during a secondportion of said reciprocating cycle, and
 2. a pumping cylinder meansactuated by said reciprocal motion means and a check valve, said pumpingcylinder, and check valve being connected with suitable conduits andadapted to conduct said fluid from said source, through said pumpingcylinder and check valve, and discharge said filling material into saidcontainer; c. said crimping means further comprises a crimping headpivotally mounted on cam bars attached to said frame so that duringreciprocating motion said cam bars strike a cam follower attached tosaid conveyor means and cause said crimping head to crimp; and d. saidcutting means comprises a cutting blade depending from said cam barswhich mount said crimping head, said cutting blade thus cutting thecrimped container cover free from said continuous web when said cam barsstrike said cam follower.
 3. means actuated by said reciprocal motionmeans to support said stack of nested containers by engaging the rim ofthe next to lowermost container during said second portion of thereciprocating cycle and discharge onto said conveyor means during saidsecond portion of the reciprocating cycle the lowermost container fromthe nested stack; b. said filling means further comprises:
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2: a. wherein said lowermost container from saidnested stack is discharged onto said conveyor means by injectingcompressed air between said lowermost container and said next tolowermost supported container; and b. further comprising a meansactuated by said reciprocating motion means to cut the edges of saidcontinuous web of covering material so as to form a series of connectedcovers of substantially the same shape as said rimmed periphery of thecontainer.
 4. A method of reciprocally denesting, filling, and coveringcontainers comprising: a. initiating reciprocal motion; b. denesting, ina denesting zone, the lowermost container from a substantially verticalstack of nested, externally peripherally rimmed containers during afirst portion of a first reciprocating cycle; c. conveying said denestedcontainer to a filling zone during a second portion of said firstreciprocating cycle; d. filling said container with a fluid in saidfilling zone during a subsequent cycle; e. conveying said filledcontainers to a cover applying zone during a subsequent cycle; f. heatsealing in said cover applying zone a first portion of a continuous webof covering material over said container, so as to form a cover therein;g. conveying during a subsequent cycle said covered container to acutting and crimping zone, a second portion of said continuous web ofcovering material being positioned over a subsequent containerreciprocally advanced to said cover applying zone by the action ofconveying to said cutting and crimping zone the container sealed to saidcontinuous web by the covering operatIon; h. crimping said cover oversaid external peripheral rim in said cutting and crimping zone duringsaid cycle wherein the covered containers are conveyed to said cuttingand crimping zone; and i. cutting said cover free from said continuousweb in said cutting and crimping zone during said cycle.
 5. The methodof claim 4 further comprising, prior to heat sealing the cover to saidcontainer in said cover applying zone, cutting the continuous web ofcovering material to form connected portions of covering materialsubstantially the same size as the external peripheral rim of saidcontainer.